So I'm getting out of class and on my way home. School is a good 10-13 miles away from home in another community. I'm on the main drag heading to the freeway, when suddenly I hear this thumping sound in the back. I turn down the music, and sure enough, it gets louder as I speed up and stops when I stop. Being the smart guy that I am, I head on the freeway. Now I definitely know I've just picked up a flat, and now I'm off on the freeway shoulder. I'm a bit nervous, but not enough to be rattled. I get to work changing the flat, more annoyed than worried about getting creamed by some moron. I get to the part where you take off the lugs, and due to lack of strength, I kick on the lug wrench for leverage. Not pretty, but it works.
All of a sudden, this white Previa pulls up behind me.
The guy gets out and offers his hand. "Hi, I'm Eric. I'm a Christian," he tells me.
I'm not sure how to word my current religious status, but I tell him, "I'm one of Jehovah's Witnesses, but not really. I'm disillusioned with it." That works.
Eric is my height and thin, Hispanic, mid to late 30s I think, with a greasy ballcap and flannel jacket. He gets right to work, muscling the lug nuts, instead of my kicking. I put on the donut, and he muscles the lugs on. When all is done, I profusely thank him and reach for my wallet. "Oh no, no charge, my friend," he says.
"Well listen, can't I get you some coffee or something?" I offered. I tried in vain to direct him to a Starbucks, but he said for me to follow him. I do, and we end up at an AM/PM where we both get coffee. Outside the shop, he treats me to a sermon.
It's nothing that I haven't heard before, Christianity 101, in the best English he could give me. I like his simple, unhurried delivery of his personal faith, plus other stories of him helping motorists more helpless than myself. Inbetween his thoughts, I give a little anti-Witnessing. He told me where he worked, and even offered his phone number, but he forgot to give his number to me before he drove off. I let him know this: if anyone he knows gets a WT or Asleep at the door, that he should let that person know that he's got a much more spiritual offer than the dubs.
So--no obligatory "Bible Study" hook, no spiritual wrangling, just two people sharing their beliefs and coffee. At least I found one more guy who really exemplifies what a Christian should be.
How many dubs would do that for a complete stranger? And how many fewer would help without hooking the person into a BS or meeting date?
Let me know.